Context

Recently, the Central government has announced to rename National Health Mission (NHM) as Pradhan Mantri-Samagra Swasthya Mission (PM-SSM), during the meeting of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) at Dehradun.

About the update:

• The Mission Steering Group (MSG), which is headed by the Union Health Minister, has already approved renaming of the NHM as the PM-SSM.
  • The MSG is the highest policy making and steering institution constituted under the NHM.
• While the NHM was focused on primary and secondary care, the PM-SSM is aimed at developing tertiary care capacities at the district hospital level.

National Health Mission:

• The NHM was launched as National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in 2005.
• In 2013, the Centre included the urban component in the mission.
• Last year, the Centre had decided to extend the NHM till March 2026, with an overall allocation of 2.75 lakh crore.
• The main programmatic components include Health System Strengthening in rural and urban areas for - Reproductive-Maternal- Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), and Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases.
• The NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality health care services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs.

PM Samagra Swasthya Mission:

• The main objective of starting this scheme of the central government is to strengthen the healthcare sector of India.
• Because during the Coronavirus infection in the last 2 years it has been seen that the healthcare sector of our country is not strong enough to face any serious medical problem.
• Under the Pradhan Mantri Samagra Swasthya Yojana, the ambitious health schemes to be operated in the country by the central government will be absorbed. So that the best medical facilities can be provided to the general public at the right time.
• While the NHM was focused on primary and secondary care, the PM-SSM is aimed at developing tertiary care capacities at the district hospital level.